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Contemporary dental practice in the UK: demographic data and practising arrangements
F J T Burke1, N H F Wilson, G J Christensen
1University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, St.Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
British Dental Journal
|February 18, 2005
Summary
Primary dental care in England and Scotland shows high National Health Service (NHS) workloads. While cross-infection control is common, many dentists lack hygienists and use unqualified nurses, with limited use of computer-aided learning and magnification.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Primary Dental Care Research
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Primary dental care provision is a cornerstone of public health.
- Understanding the operational aspects of dental practices is crucial for service improvement.
- Regional variations in dental care delivery warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey primary dental care practices in North West England and Scotland.
- To identify key characteristics of dental practice operations.
- To assess the adoption of modern dental technologies and support staff.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was distributed to 1,000 randomly selected dental practitioners.
- A follow-up questionnaire was sent to non-responders after 4 weeks.
- Data analysis focused on response rates, practice demographics, patient load, and resource availability.
Main Results:
- A 70% response rate was achieved, with most respondents being practice principals in group National Health Service (NHS) practices.
- Practices reported treating 10-20 patients per session, with higher patient volumes in NHS settings compared to private care.
- Significant findings include a lack of hygienist support (44%), employment of unqualified dental nurses (82%), and low utilization of computer-aided learning (CAL) programs (37%) and magnification (74%).
Conclusions:
- The majority of surveyed practitioners operate within NHS regulations, often as principals in group practices with demanding workloads.
- Contemporary cross-infection control procedures are widely implemented, though specific practices like daily handpiece autoclaving show minor deviations.
- There is a notable reliance on unqualified dental nurses and a low adoption rate of advanced tools like CAL programs and magnification among practitioners.